QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Will it feel like I have a prosthesis hanging from my shoulder?   Definitely not. There is almost no feeling associated with a properly positioned Soubra™.

How does the Soubra™ differ from just wearing a mastectomy bra?   Without a Soubra™ the bra has to carry more weight on one side of the body than on the other. Mastectomy bras are designed to do this and must be worn tightly to keep the prosthesis in position throughout the day. The Soubra™ offsets the weight of the prosthesis and holds it in place, as if it was a natural breast, so special bras are not needed, and bras don't have to be worn tightly.

Can the Soubra™ be worn with a mastectomy bra?   Definitely! Some women like to wear a mastectomy bra with the Soubra™ to provide a layer of fabric between the prosthesis and the skin. The Soubra™ works especially well with bra pockets that open at the top. For side opening pockets it is necessary to cut a narrow slot at the top of the pocket to feed the Soubra™ up through as the prosthesis is inserted.

Will the bra shoulder strap slip off the Soubra™?   No, if the Soubra™ is placed along the natural path of the bra strap there is no reason for the bra strap to slip off. Women engaged in vigorous physical activities that involve repetitive upward motion of the arms may want to choose a wider Soubra™ to allow for any side to side motion of the bra strap that these activities may cause.

What should I look for in a bra to wear with my Soubra™?   The Soubra™ works fine with a wide range of shoulder strap bras. However, ideally, you want a bra with shoulder straps that are in line with the centre of weight of the prosthesis. That usually means that they are in line with the nipple and lie generally across the centre of the shoulder. The bra does not need to provide any more support than you would normally require for an uncompromised breast.

Can the Soubra™ be removed from the prosthesis?   Yes, but frequent removal will cause the adhesive bond to weaken. A simple procedure for rejuvenating the adhesive is included with the instructions. The adhesive bonds very well to most common brands of breast prostheses. In case it should be necessary, we include spare adhesive strips of two different types.

How long will a Soubra™ last?   We have never known of a Soubra™ to need replacing through normal wear. Even the light gauge Soubra™ is very durable and, with proper care, will last for at least a year, and probably several. Choosing the right width and gauge of Soubra™ for the weight of your prosthesis and lifestyle is very helpful.

How does one put on a Soubra™?   See "How It Works"

Is the Soubra™ difficult to clean?   We recommend that the Soubra™ be washed once each day to remove body oils. It is very easy to clean while attached to the prosthesis. Simply run a bar of hand soap down the undersurface of the strap, then rinse it off under a tap. One gentle pass through a towel and it is ready to wear. It all takes about 20 seconds.

How soon after surgery can a Soubra™ be worn?   Many women will find that because the prosthesis is not attached directly to the mastectomy site, because the Soubra™ allows the mastectomy site to breath better, and because the bra does not have to be worn very tightly with a Soubra™, they are able to wear a prosthesis of full natural weight very soon after surgery. Exactly how soon will vary and should be professionally determined.

Are there circumstances where the Soubra™ simply will not work?   There are two situation where the Soubra™ may not function well.
1) Prostheses that are due for replacement and have been worn in direct contact with the body may have absorbed body oils that cannot be readily removed. This may interfere with the bonding of the Soubra™ to the prosthesis.
2) The Soubra™ may not work well with prostheses that have a double layer of shell material at the back and in which the outermost layer is only bonded to the prosthesis at the edge, unless the border is wide enough to attach the Soubra™.

Why doesn't my local post mastectomy supplier carry the Soubra™?  Our experience with post mastectomy suppliers has not been very positive. Even the American Cancer Society declined to carry the product in its TLC Catalog. We believe that there is a common concern among manufacturers and retailers that the Soubra™ would interfere with the much more profitable sale of post mastectomy bras.

How can I get in touch with other women who have tried the Soubra™?   To confer with women who have tried the Soubra™ you could post a brief inquiry on a well visited breast cancer discussion group (see Helpful Links).

Are you a TG/CD friendly company?   Friendliness is our nature, and we are sensitive to the needs and concerns of all our customers.